Shaft-boxing.



magmas,

C. THOMAS.

SHAFT BOXING.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1912.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

CHARLES THOMAS, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

SHAFT-BOXING.

Specif cation of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

Application filed August 5, 1912. Serial No. 713,263.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES THOMAS, a citizenof the United States, residing at No. 107 Catalpa street, Joliet, in thecounty of Will andv State of Illinois, have invented a new and usefulShaft-Boxing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is adaptable to shafts of all kinds, but is especiallyintended for use in automobiles and for crank-shafts in automobiles. 1 i

The objects of my invention are, by a combination of mechanisms, tomaintain the correct relative dimensions of the cylinder of the box andthe shaft journaled therein, notwithstanding the wear on the surfaces ofthe cylinder and the shaft, and thus to take up increase of space causedby friction, and increase the durability and length of time the boxandshaft can be satisfactorily used.

Tnthe accompanying drawing-Figure 1 is a perspective view of theshaft-box before being used; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sameafter being used for nearly the full period of satisfactory use; andFig. 3 is a view of one of the twin wedges.-

Frame 1 of the shaft box, especially when the shaft is a crank-shaft, isintegral with, or connected to, the end of some connecting rod, asshown. The cylinder 10, of the box, is sunk about half into the bottompart of frame'l. The cap 2 fits in between the side walls of frame 1 anddown over the shaft, and when both shaft and box are new leaves thespace between the cap and the bottom of the frame, shown in Fig. 1. Ontop of said cap is inserted the liner 3. The wedges 4 are slidable onguides 6. The compression springs 5 are first slid onto said guides,after which said wedges, through perforations in the same, areslid overopposite ends of said guides, said springs being centered on the teats11, and by compressing said springs, the edges of said wedges areinserted into the slots 7 and rest on said liner 3, the position of saidliner keeping the pressure of said wedges against, the upper surface ofsaid slots. The guides 6 are of a length equal to the distance betweenthe inner edges of the top parts of the frame l. 'Of. course,

when the box is new the said springs are compressed to about the limit,and as the cylinder surface of said cap andframe, as well as the shaft,are worn away by friction, and the counter pressure on said springslessened, said Wedges are forced outward and said cap downward, and anyplay in the cylinder that would otherwise result from friction is takenup as it occurs, until eventually the springs, wedges and .cap

would be in the position shown in Fig. 2. p

The liner 3 is secured to cap 2 by studs 8 screwed through perforations12 into said.

cap. The cotter 9 is to prevent said studs from turning. I

What I claim is 1. An automatic self adjusting shaft box; a movable capwithin the frame of said box; a liner secured to the top of said cap;wedges resting on the top of said liner, one on either side and eachmovable in a slot in the side of said frame, and having perforatedflanges; guides for said wedges connecting the upper parts of saidframe, compression springs coiled on said guides-between the flanges ofsaid wedges.

2. A boltless and self-adjusting automobile shaft-box, formed integralwith a supporting rod or beam; a cap movable Within the frame of saidbox; the concavity of said cap and theconcavlty of the bottom of saidframe forming the shaft bearing and leaving a space between the twoparts to permit the lowering of said cap; wedges-resting on the top ofsaid cap and movable through slots in the sides of said frame; acompensating liner.inserted between said'cap and said wedges; guidesconnecting the upper ends of said frame; compression-springs coiledaround said guides acting on said wedges.

3; A shaft-box, having a one-piece frame formed integral with asupporting beam; a concave cap movable in said frame and in connectionwith a concavity in the bottom of said frame, forming a shaft bearingand leaving a space between the two parts to permit the lowering of saidcap; wedges so adjusted in said flame as to rest on said cai) signaturein the presence of two subscribing and movable21 through slots in saidframe; 21 witnesses, this 1st day of August, 1912. liner in'sertebetween said cap and wedges guides between the open ends of said frame;CHARLES A com ression syrings coiled on each of said Witnesses:

guides to actuate said Wedges. WILLIAM THOMAS,

1n wltness whereof I hereunto aflix my JAB. CASWELL.

